Vania



- E. R. COE RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1919.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET nnrrnn earns rArn FFICE.

ELIVIER R. COE, WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH &

SIGNAL oonranv, or SWISSVALE, VANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- RAILWAY srenamne SYSTEM.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Original application filed SeptemberlZ, 1917, Serial No. 190,942. Divided and this application filed April 11,

. 1919. Serial No. 289,451.

tain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Systems, of which the following as a specification. I i

My invention relates to railway signaling systems, and particularly tosystems of the type comprising alternating current track circuits for the control of signals.

The present application is. a division of my copending application filed September 12,1917, Serial No. 190,922, for an improvement in relays. 7 i

I will describe one form of signaling system embodying my invention, and'will then point out the novel features thereof in claims. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of signaling system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a View showing in vertical section the construction of a relay which is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig.1. Fig.

3 is a sectional View on the line IIIIII of Fig.2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. Figs. 5 and Gare sectional views taken on the planes indicated by the lines VV and VI-VI, respectively, in Fig. 1, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 2, the relay, which is designated as a whole by the reference character It, is inclosed .in a box comprising a base plate 1, a top plate 2, and glass sides 3.

The relay comprises a motor M which, as

here shown, is of the induction type, com- Themotor Mis free to rotate ineach direction, and as is well understood, the direction of rotation depends on the relative instantaneous phases of the alternating currents supplied to the stator windings 5 and 6.

A and B are two centrifuges which are operatively connected with the motor M in such manner that one centrifuge or the other will be operated according as the motor rotates in one direction or the other. The mechanism between the motor and the centrifuge is as follows:

Operatively connected with the rotor of motor M is a gear wheel 7 mounted on a spindle 15 which rotates in ball-bearings l6 and 16 mounted in a tubular projection 1 integral with the base plate. This wheel 7 meshes with two gears 8 and 9, which are connected with the centrifuge A and B, respectively, through directional clutches. Considering centrifuge A particularly, the main spindle 12 thereof extends downwardly and rotates in ball-bearings 13 and 13 mounted in a tubular projection 1 integral with the base plate. The gear 8 is provided with a hub 8 by which this gear is mounted to rotate in ball-bearings 14: and 14* which are carried by spindle 12 and are held in place on the spindle by a stop l7 fixed to the spindle. The directional clutch (see also Fig. 3) is formed by the gear 8, a block 10 fixed to the spindle andhaving triangular notches 10 cut therein, and balls 11 located in these notches and operatin between the block 10 and the gear 8. W en the gear 8. rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 it drives centrifuge A inthe samedirection, but when the gear rotates in the other direction the balls 11 do not wedge and'so the centrifuge remains at rest.

The mechanism between gear 9 and centrifuge B is'eXactly the same as that between gear 8 *and centrifuge A, the directional clutch (see Fig. 1) in this instance being so arranged that the centrifuge is operated when gear 9 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 but not in the other direction.

It will-be seen from the foregoing that when motor M rotates in one direction it operates centrifuge A, and that when it rotates in the other direction it operates centrifuge B.

Centrifuge A controls a contact 1819, and centrifuge B controls a contact 20-21, the

mechanism being as follows: Referring to centrifuge A, the spindle is provided at 1ts upper end with two diametrically disposed arms 22 and 22 in which are journaled the centrifuge cranks 23 and 23 which are pro vided as usual with fly-balls 25. The lnner ends of these cranks project into holes in a head 24 which is fixed to a spindle 26 arranged to be guided by, and to slide freely in the hollow spindle 12. The upper end of this head rotates on a ball-bearing 28 carried by a link 27. It will be seen that head 24, and consequently the link 27, are moved up and down according as the centrifuge balls 25 move out and in, that is, according as the centrifuge is rotating or is at rest. Link 27 is pivotally connected at its upper end to a contact carrying block 29 which is pivotally mounted at point 29 by means not shown in the drawing. This block carries contact finger 18. When the centrifuge A is at rest, block 29 occupies the position shown, so that contact 1819 is open; but when the centrifuge is rotated at or above a given speed, block 29 is swung in clockwise direction about its pivotal point so that the contact becomes closed.

The control of contact 20-21 by centrifuge B is the same as that of contact 1819 by centrifuge A, It follows from the foregoing that contact 18-19 or contact 2021 is closed according as motor M rotates in one direction or the other, provided, however, that the speed of rotation of this motor is at or above a predetermined value.

As a safeguard against false operation of the relay means are preferably provided to prevent rotation of each centrifuge A and B in the direction opposite to that in which it is positively driven'by motor M. As here shown, this is accomplished by providing the head 24 with ratchet teeth 33 (see Figs. 2, 5 and 6) which coact with a pawl 82 attached to the contact block 29. The pawl is in the path of the ratchet teeth only when the block is in the position wherein the contact is open, that is, when the centrifuge is at rest, so that the device is noiseless when the centrifuge is operating. As will be clear from Figs. 5'and 6, each pawl and ratchetdevlce permits the corresponding centrifuge to rotate in the direction in which it is drlven by the motor, but prevents rotation of the centrifuge in the opposite direction.

I also preferably provide means for interlocking the two contact blocks 29 so that both contacts 1819 and 2021 cannot be closed at the same time. This means, as here shown, comprises a bar 48 pivotally connected atits opposite ends with the brackets supporting the contact blocks 29. One of these pivotal connections includes a slot 49 in the bar 45:3. The distance between the pivotal polnts in this bar, and the length of the slot 49, are such that both contacts may be fully opened simultaneously, but that when either contact is closed the bar will prevent the other contact being closed at the same time.

Leaving for the moment the structure of the relay, I will refer to Fig. 1 and explain the operation, in the signaling system, of the parts of the relay thus far described.

In Fig. 1, the reference character'34 designatcs-the track rails of a railway, which rails are divided by insulated joints to form a track section CD.. Located adjacent the exit end of this track section is a source of alternating current, which, as here shown, is a transformer 30, the secondary of which is connected with the track rails and the primary of which is connected with transmission mains 60 to which signaling current is supplied from a generator G. This source may be reversibly-connected with the track rails by a pole-changer P, which polcchanger, as here shown, is operated by a signal S for the track section neXt in advance. Located adjacent the entrance end of section CD is a signal S, which is controlled by the relay R shown in F ig. 2. One stator winding 5 of this relay is connected directly with the track rails of section CD, this connectionincluding a winding 35 of an auxiliary relay E, the function of which is hereinafter explained. The other stator winding 6, is constantly supplied with alternating signaling current from the secondary of a transformer 31, the primary of which is connected with the transmission mains 60. Signal S is adapted to give three indications, namely, stop, caution and proceed. .This signal is provided with a caution circuit which is con trolled by contact 1819 and with a pro ceed circuit which is controlled by contact 2021. The caution circuit is from the secondary of transformer 31 through wires 41 and 42, contact 1918, wire 43, mechanism of signal S, and wires 44 and 45 to transformer 31. The proceed circuit is from the secondary of transformer 31, through wires 41, 42 and 46, contact 2021, wire 47, mechanism of signal S and wires 44 and 45 to transformer 31.

It will be seen from the foregoing that when the track section CD is occupied by a car or train V, as shown in the drawing, motor M of relay R is deenergized so that both contacts 18-49 and 2021 are opei, whereby the signal S indicates stop. lVhen the car or train W'passes out of the track section C D, current will be supplied to the railsof this section and the position of pole-changer P will be such that motor M is energized in such direction that centrifuge A (Fig. 2) is operated; contact 18l9 will then be closed so'that signal S will change to the caution indication. As the on disk 50 tendingto. rotate the disk in tinue to spin for a; considerable period- 'of ;car or train passeso-utof thesection inadvance of sectio-nC-D, pole-changer P will be reversed, whereupon the direction of ro- ,tation ofmotor M willberevers'ed, so that centrifuge B (Fig.2) will be operated; contact. -21 will then be closed so that signal S will indicate proceed.

-Assuming-rthat the relay comprises only the parts thus far referred to, itwill be observed that when/the motorMis operating one or theother of the centrifuges, so

that the signal S indicates caution or proceed, and atrain enters section (3- 1) so that the motor is stopped, the centrifuge which was being operated will contime until its momentum is absorbed by friction. The result is that the contact controlled by this centrifuge will remain closed for aconsiderable period of time, so that after the train. enters the section a considerable period oftime will elapse before the signal will changeto .stop.

To avoid this sluggish action, I provide brakingdevices for the centrifuges, which devices I will now describe. y Referring again to Fig. 2, fixed to the spindle 12 ofpcentrifuge A isya disk 50 of electro-conductive' non-magnetizable material, such asaluminum, which rotates between the polesofpawfixed U-shaped magnetizable core .51. This core is provided witha winding-52 and it is also provided with shading bands 53 so arranged that when the winding is energized a torque is exerted the direction opposite [to that in which it is rotated by the motor M. therefore, that when centrifuge A is rotating and the winding 52 is energized, a braking effect will be produced tending to bring the centrifuge to rest.

Centrifuge B is provided with a similar braking device, having a winding 52, the shading bands being likewise so arranged that when the device is energized it exerts a torque on the centrifuge opposite to the direction in which the centrifuge is rotated by the motor.

For the control of the braking devices, I

provide an auxiliary relay device E comprising a field core 57, a winding 35 there on, a Z-armature 58, and a contact 36 controlled by this armature. The contact 36 is closed when the auxiliary device is deenergized, and open when it is energized.

The winding 35 ofthe auxiliary relay de vice E is included in series with the track winding 5 of the motor M (see Fig. 1) so that this device is energized or not according as the track winding 5 is energized or not.

are tw-ocontacts 3738 and 3940 (see Fig.

1), operated by centrifuges A and B, re-' spending centrifuge.

It will be clear,

Further in control of the braking devices spectively. These contacts I will term brake-controlling contacts, to distinguish them from the other contacts which may be termedsignal-controlling contacts. Each brake-controlling contact is open when itscentrifuge is at rest, and closed whenit is .rotating, but each brake-controlling contact is so arranged that as the centrifuge slows down this contact remains closed until after the signal-controlling contact operated by the same centrifugehas openeda Thisis indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by showing the openings of the brake-controlling contacts smaller than those of the signalcontrolling contacts.

The energizing winding of each braking device is controlled by cont-act 36 of the auxiliary relay device E and also by thebrake controlling contact operated by the corre- Referringto Fig. 1, the circuit for winding 52 of the braking device for centrifuge'A is from the secondary of transformer 31, through Wires ll and 54:, contact 36, wire 55, winding 52*, contact 3738 wires 56 and 45 to transformer 31. The circuit for winding 52* is similar except that it includes contact 39-l=0= instead of contact 3738.

The operation ofthe m devices is as follows: ""Iwill assume that'section G-D and th "section in advance thereof are unoccupied, sothat motor M is rotat ng in such direction that centrifuge B is operating whereby signal S indicatesProceed; The auxil-;

thus causing the signal S to change to the stop indication; subsequently upon further slowing down of the centrifuge B, contact 3940 opens thus deenergizing the braking device so that while the centrifuge is at rest or below a predetermined speed this device consumes no current. Upon subsequent energization of motor winding 5, the auxiliary relay device E is simultaneously energized opening-contact 36, so that even after one or the other of the brake controlling contacts becomes closed the corresponding braking device is deenergized, and, consequentlydoes not impede the operation of the centrifuge. 1 p If, while the section CD is unoccupied, the section in advance is occupied so that centrifuge A is operating, then when a train enters section C-D theoperation will be exactly the same as before, the braking device for centrifuge A then being energized to quickly bring the speed of this centrifuge pole-changer P (Fig. l) is reversing. I thus avoid momentary energization of the braking devices While the auxiliary relay device E is momentarily deenergized, due to reversal of pole-changer P.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railway signaling system embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made'therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A railway signaling system comprising a track section; a source of alternating signaling current reversibly connected with the rails of said section; a relay comprising a motor having a winding receiving energy from the rails of saidv section and rotatable in one direction or the other according. as said source is connected with the rails inone direction or the other, two speed responsive devices one or the other of which is operated according as the motor rotates in one direction or the other, and contacts controlled by said speed responsive devices; and signaling means controlled by said relay contacts.

2. A railway signaling system comprising a track section; a source of alternating signaling current reversibly connected with the rails of said section; a relay comprising a motor having a winding receiving energy from the rails of said sectlon and rotatable in one direction or the other according as said source is connected with the rails inone direction or the other, two centrifuges one or the other of which is operated according as the motor rotates'in one direction or the other," brake-controlling contacts governed by said centrifuges, an auxiliary relay device associated with the circuit for said motor winding so as to be energized or not accord ing as said motor windin is energized or not, braking means for eaci centrifuge controlled by said contacts and by said auxiliary relay device and operating when the contact controlled by the corresponding centrifuge is closed and the auxiliary relay devicelis deenergized, a signal controlling contact gov- V 

